Pesto is a fantastic condiment to have at hand in the fridge. Bought pestos are generally great, but some can be very high in salt, oil and additives.

Homemade pesto is natural, can taste even better and be extrememly nutritious. Having a food processor makes pesto production very easy. However, a hand held mixer works perfectly fine too.

Why is this so good?

Based on avocado, this pesto has a creamy yet light moreish mouth feel. Avocado is hard not to love- not only does it possess creamy yumminess, it’s also high in lovely feel good fats, energy and fibre. Combine this with herbs, lemon and walnuts and you have creamy fresh heaven! Fresh parsley, basil, mint and oregano all provide beautiful flavour and fibre. They also provide some folate, an important vitamin for fertility health. The walnuts provide a thickness, crunch, more Omega 3, fibre and protein.

With no added oil or preservatives this pesto only lasts well in the fridge for up to 3 days. However, you may find that it gets eaten quickly anyway. When I made this batch I served half at a dinner party for 4 as a sauce for salmon steak and roasted vegetables. The next day we had some with poached eggs and toast.

Serves 8 (serving = approx. 2 Tablespoons)
Prep time: 10mins

1 avocado
1 lemon, juiced
½ bunch parsley
½ bunch basil
3 sprigs mint
3 sprigs oregano
¼ cup walnuts
¼ cup water
Salt and pepper
Honey (optional)

1. Remove all herb leaves from stems, and place in a blender (If you have a handheld mixer use a deep bowl for mixing).
2. Add all other ingredients and mix until smooth. Taste before seasoning with salt and pepper. If the pesto is too sour, add ½-1 teaspoon of honey and blend in.
3. Try serving with salmon steak, smoked salmon, trout, chicken, ham or poached eggs. It’s beautiful with roasted vegetables such as pumpkin, beetroot, carrots, eggplant and zucchini. It’s also great a dip.

For young children:
The herb flavour may be too strong for young children. If this is the case try mixing through natural yoghurt. If your child is unable to eat dairy (ie. is lactose intolerant or has a dairy related allergy) then try blending this pesto with silken tofu or hummus.

Gestational Diabetes –

This pesto/dip is fantastic for ladies with GDM. One serve (2 Tablespoons) is lovely served in a sandwich or wrap or as a condiment to a meal (e.g. with salmon). I would suggest not adding any honey as this will make this pesto a little higher in carbohydrate (plus, honey is not needed). If you feel you need personalised guidance I would recommend you speak with your Dietitian or feel free to reach out to me via email or social media.

Lara x